Jackson Township park proposal may move to Pocono Township

Before it's even built, Pocono Alliance is considering a new location

A proposed playground designed with special needs children in mind could be finding a new home. Officials involved with Crossing Abilities, Monroe County's all-inclusive playground, said discussions are in place to move the proposed location from a park in Jackson Township to one in Pocono Township.

Comment

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

poconorecord.com

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

Posted Sep. 27, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By MICHAEL SADOWSKI

Posted Sep. 27, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

A proposed playground designed with special needs children in mind could be finding a new home.

Officials involved with Crossing Abilities, Monroe County's all-inclusive playground, said discussions are in place to move the proposed location from a park in Jackson Township to one in Pocono Township.

Officials from Pocono Alliance, which is in charge of the project, said the group's board of directors plans to vote early next week on whether the park location would change.

"Pocono Alliance is exploring all options that are currently being presented to us regarding the location for the Crossing Abilities Playground," said Michael Tukeva, the group's executive director.

The playground would cater to the needs of both special needs and all other children — an "all-inclusive" playground. The county does not have an all-inclusive playground.

Currently, the playground is pegged to be built at the Hamilton-Jackson-Pocono Regional Park that is in the starting phases of construction off Golden Slipper Road.

Pocono Township is interested in bringing the playground to Mt. View Park off Sullivan Trail Road in Tannersville.

"I think it would be a great thing," said Pocono Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank Hess said. "Our park is suitable for it, and just in case, we're checking on it to make sure it is."

Harold Ernsberger, executive director of the Hamilton-Jackson-Pocono Park & Open Space Commission, said the commission is aware the park location could move, but said he has been told it is "a done deal" yet.

With or without the help of Pocono Alliance, Ernsberger said the commission continues to be dedicated to building an all-inclusive playground at the proposed park.

If the financing was in place, Ernsberger said the park could be ready for the playground construction by next spring. He said the playground construction likely would take between 30 and 45 days.

Construction on the first phase of the park is expected to start in early October, with a paved parking lot, a paved walking trail and a handicap-accessible bathroom being added by the end of the year.